Regional HVAC standards impact surveyedACHR NewsWhile many HVAC contractors remain uninformed about changes in energy-efficiency regulations coming in 2015, some are thinking ahead to how these changes will affect their businesses. A survey by Emerson Climate Technologies Inc. found that 40 percent of commercial contractors and 42 percent of residential contractors in the Northern region foresee upsell opportunities, while only approximately 30 percent of residential contractors in the South and Southwest look forward to higher revenue or higher margins.

NATE Magazine highlights benefits of education, training and certification to IndustryContractor MagazineAs fall approaches and students of all ages return to school, the latest issue of the quarterly NATE Magazine from North American Technician Excellence promotes the benefits of education, training and certification as "The Path to Success" for the entire HVACR industry. Available for free download, the NATE Magazine highlights how stakeholder throughout the industry use the NATE certification exams and the Recognized Training Provider program to develop technicians throughout their careers.

Managing indoor air quality while improving HVAC efficiencySupply House TimesBuilding codes and regulations are designed to maintain good indoor air quality and vary depending on building type or application. It is important to know the codes and standards that apply because of the unique provisions of each state and jurisdiction. Requirements and recommendations set within ASHRAE Standard 62.1 (Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality) are the primary source for these codes. This standard includes requirements for managing poor outdoor air quality; systems and equipment; ventilation rates; construction and startup; and operations and maintenance.

How to use an air balance hoodContracting BusinessWhile an air-balancing hood is the most popular instrument used to verify the performance of an HVAC system, it could never get the job done alone. Those who use a hood once or twice by itself can easily lose confidence in it. The art of using these test instruments together to verify system performance requires a significant sustained commitment to testing. Good science requires more than a single test in almost every situation.

Solving problems effectivelyContracting BusinessA service business is essentially a problem solving business; in this case, you are solving your customer's problems for them. Albert Einstein said, "If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes."

Study examines HVAC service franchisesACHR NewsThe HVAC service franchises industry is highly dependent on activity in the downstream construction sector as many HVAC systems are installed at the time of construction. After the housing bubble burst, the value of nonresidential and residential construction plummeted. Since then, demand for HVAC services has quickly increased as construction expenditures recovered. In 2014, industry revenue is expected to continue to rise as demand fully recovers.

Good outlook for heating oil pricesWGGB-TV
With the cold weather right around the corner, many people in Massachusetts are already starting to prepare for the winter season by locking in their heating oil prices. Many people can look forward to saving some extra cash this season. Bob Kiera, owner of Kiera Oil, believes the biggest reason for lower prices is because of an increased supply.

Heating oil assistance programs expect high demand after last year's cold winterThe BulletinWith two months to go before the first subsidized heating oil deliveries are made to economically depressed households, community action agencies that process the requests for Eastern Connecticut are anticipating unprecedented demand. Access Agency Inc., along with Thames Valley Council for Community Action, administer heating assistance programs with a portion of state funding that comes from the federal government. Officials at both organizations expect the number of applications to eclipse 10,000 by Nov. 12, when fuel deliveries begin.

RAUBOARD low-profile heat transfer panels are used in floors, walls and ceilings to efficiently and evenly distribute heat from REHAU RAUPEX® (PEXa) pipe into the room. Panels are installed between the subfloor and the finished floor or between the joists and the wall/ceiling coverings. After screwing the panels to the subfloor or wall/ceiling joists, the 10.1 mm RAUPEX (PEXa) pipe snaps into the groove for convenient installation.

New report shows US solar industry nearing 16 GW of installed capacityACHR NewsThe United States' solar market hit a new milestone in the second quarter of this year, with more than half a million homes and businesses now generating solar energy. According to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association's Q2 2014 U.S. Solar Market Insight Report, the U.S. installed 1,133 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV) in the second quarter of this year. The residential and commercial segments accounted for nearly half of all solar PV installations in the quarter.

Manager or leader — which is best?By Anne Rose There's an old expression: "Managers do things right, and leaders do the right things." It is true that managers and leaders look at the world differently and exhibit opposite styles of interacting with their environment. Managers like to maintain the status quo, hold things static. Leaders, in contrast, frequently push the boundaries of possibilities. Managers want to tidy the present, while leaders want to expand the future. Look around your company, and you'll see both types — as supervisors and as subordinates. So, which style is better?

The myth of the 40-hour work weekInc.Gallup recently released the data from their 2013/2014 Work and Education Polls, which states that only 50 percent of "full-time" workers in the U.S. work 40 hours or less (on average). As you might expect due to overtime wages, this is more prevalent with workers paid on an hourly basis; 64 percent of hourly workers surveyed fit into this category, while only 40 percent of salaried workers did.

Give your HVAC customers an emergency contact listContracting BusinessService Roundtable has provided a handy "Emergency Contact" list you can print and give to your HVAC customers as that all-important reference in times of dire need. You can also customize it to include your logo and contact information.